Preparation and caring for your muscles before you take part in any exercise is equally important to cooling down and stretching out after exercise.
Using heat therapy before exercise, for muscular aches and pains, as part of your warm up can increase blood flow which can help increase the flexibility of muscles.
It is important to note you should not use heat therapy immediately after strenuous exercise or immediately after injury as it increases circulation. When there is any injury, cooling therapy should be used for this at the same time